Politics should be kept out of airport expansion

In a week where the Davies Commission has been dominating the headlines, the latest IEA report looks at the case for taking the power to decide where new airports are built away from ministers and into the hands of local citizens. De-politicising Airport Expansion argues that airports should be allowed to “buy” the right to emit noise by paying local residents a compensation fee.

Mark Littlewood, Director-General of the IEA, said: “With the private sector raring to invest in airport expansion, it is patently clear that the government is creating a logjam at the expense of wider economic growth.

“Unless the government steps back from the capacity debate, the findings of the Davies Commission will be completely futile. We need a radical shift away from politics to ensure that the interests of passengers and the wider UK economy prevail.”